Eglin-c, a polypeptide derived from the medicinal leech, prevents human neutrophil elastase-induced emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in the hamster
Preclinical pharmacology article published in American Review of Respiratory Disease (1985)
Abstract
Eglin-c (Eg-c), a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 8,100 daltons, was purified from the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. The Eg-c was tritiated by reductive methylation for in vitro studies. Incubation of 2.1 X 10(-10) moles of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) with 3H-elastin in the presence of 8.2 X 10(-10) moles of 3H-Eg-c inhibited 98.7% of the elastolytic activity of the enzyme. Using Sephadex G 100 chromatography and 1.7 moles of 3H-Eg-c per mole of HNE, a 34,000-dalton complex (3H-Eg-c-HNE) was observed. The stability of the complex formed between 3H-Eg-c and HNE that had been inactivated with succinyl-ala2-pro-val CH2Cl was much less than that of the 3H-Eg-c-HNE complex. In vivo studies were carried out in weight-matched groups of anesthetized golden Syrian hamsters given 100, 300, 500, or 2,000 micrograms of Eg-c in 0.5 ml saline intratracheally 1 h before 300 micrograms HNE was administered intratracheally. Control animals received saline followed by HNE or 2 doses of saline 1 h apart. Eight weeks later, lung statics and dynamics were measured in anesthetized animals, followed by histologic study of lung parenchyma and the mucosa of the large intrapulmonary airways. There were no deaths, and final mean body weights were similar in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Резюме
Intratracheal eglin-c (100-2000 µg) administered 1 hour before human neutrophil elastase prevents emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in hamsters, demonstrating in vivo therapeutic potential.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This study examined eglin-c, an 8,100-dalton polypeptide purified from the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis, as an inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase (HNE). In vitro, eglin-c formed a 34,000-dalton complex with HNE and inhibited 98.7% of its elastolytic activity. In vivo, intratracheal eglin-c (100–2,000 µg) was administered to golden Syrian hamsters one hour before intratracheal HNE, followed by measurement of lung statics and dynamics and histologic assessment of lung parenchyma and airway mucosa at eight weeks. The abstract is truncated at 250 words and does not report the full in vivo outcomes of these experiments. This study is relevant to the characterization of bioactive compounds derived from the medicinal leech, but it is a preclinical animal study that does not involve hirudotherapy itself, and complete results are not available in the abstract.
Цитирование
Eglin-c, a polypeptide derived from the medicinal leech, prevents human neutrophil elastase-induced emphysema and bronchial secretory cell metaplasia in the hamster.
Snider GL, Stone PJ, Lucey EC et al. · The American review of respiratory disease, 1985
Связанный клинический контекст
Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой
Добавлено в библиотеку ASH: May 26, 2026 · Последнее обновление сайта: June 18, 2026